Uni High students, staff cut hair for cancer research

Paul Mitchell student, Calvin Mount, 23, shaves the head of high school senior, Cole Kawaguchi, to help raise awareness for cancer. Sixteen of the 23 participants were male, and two were teachers at University High.

Cole Kawaguchi cringed when he felt the razor glide over his scalp before bursting into laughter as he watched clumps of his dark hair fall to the floor.

"It's all for a good cause," said the high school senior, who was one of 23 students and faculty members to receive a haircut recently during University High's annual Shave-A-Head Lunchfest.

The event was organized by the American Cancer Society Youth Chapter to raise awareness for cancer and funds for cancer research. Male students had their heads shaved, while female students with 10 or more inches of hair had their clippings donated to the nonprofit Locks of Love, which makes wigs for disadvantaged children suffering from medical hair-loss. A crowd of more than 30 students stood by to observe, take pictures and even cheer on their classmates.

The haircuts were completed by 10 cosmetology students from the Paul Mitchell Beauty School who volunteered their time and talents to cut or shave the hair of Lunchfest participants. Paul Mitchell student, Sydney Patten, attended because of her personal connection to the disease. "My mother died of a cancerous brain tumor," Patten said, "My family was directly affected by it, so I thought it would be fun to come help out."

Members of the American Cancer Society Youth Chapter passed out collection boxes which brought in $37 – less than a 10th of last year's $400 total.

Chapter president, Maya Desai, focused on the turnout at the event instead.

"I was happy with the amount of students who participated and the people who came to watch," she said.

Desai said that the cancer survivors she's met while fundraising for the chapter inspire her to keep fighting just like they do. The money raised by the club will be donated to Relay for Life.

Paul Mitchell student, Calvin Mount, 23, shaves the head of high school senior, Cole Kawaguchi, to help raise awareness for cancer. Sixteen of the 23 participants were male, and two were teachers at University High.

MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dominique Nguyen, 18, of Irvine watches in anticipation as Paul Mitchell student, Calvin Mount uses an electric razor to cut off 10 inches of her hair which will be donated to Locks of Love.

MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A crowd of students gathered to watch their peers and teachers receive haircuts during a Shave-a-Head Lunchfest to raise awareness for cancer.

MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Paul Mitchell student, Mo Guenther, 20, of Mission Viejo dusts any remaining bits of hair off a student's head during the Shave-a-Head Lunchfest.

MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Farhad Choksy smiles as he watches tufts of his dark hair float to the floor. Twenty-three students and faculty members participated in the event, which raised money and awareness for cancer.

MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Senior, Maryam Daei, of Irvine gets the side of her head shaved during the Shave-a-Head Lunchfest at University High School.

MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Senior, Maryam Daei, of Irvine shows her new, bold look. She was one of a handful of girls who got the side of their head shaved.

MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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